KIGALI (Rwanda) - if you're searching for a reason to follow the eight-team FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Kigali, look no further as there is a constellation of stars ready to light up the sky of the Rwandan capital when the event gets underway on Saturday, August 19.
The six-day event will culminate on Sunday, August 25, with one country clinching their ticket to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament scheduled to take place in March 2026.
Want to find out more about some of the stars descending to the land of thousand hills? We have you covered.
Bella Murekatete - Rwanda
CENTER
Birth Date: 4 July, 2000 Height: 1.91 (6ft 1in)
The first Rwandan to play NCAA Division I basketball, Murekatete is seen by many as the future of her national team.
After crossing the Atlantic almost a decade ago to pursue her academic and basketball ambitions stateside, this 1.91m (6ft i1n) center, is set to play her first major international tournament with Rwanda, after sitting out last year’s Women’s AfroBasket held in Kigali.
Before enjoying a successful career with the Washington State University, Murekatete, who left her home country as a 14-year-old, had a stellar career with Rwanda youth teams.
According to her Washington State profile, Murekatete “sits first in blocks (188), first in rebounds (990), first in starts (145), first in games played (153), fifth in points (1,552), third in made field goals (639) and T-3rd in double-doubles (17).”
Melisa Gretter - Argentina
POINT GUARD
Birth Date: 24 January, 1993 Height: 1.67 (5ft 6in)
Can the history of Argentina women’s basketball be told without a mention to Gretter? Probably not. A point guard with an impressive ability to read the game, Gretter has been the heart and soul of the Las Gigantes on so many occasions... And she rarely disappoints.
Since her debut with the senior team at FIBA Americas Championship for Women 2011, Gretter has become one of the faces - alongside Andrea Boquete who is unavailable for the Kigali showpiece - of the South American side.
Holly Winterburn - Great Britain
GUARD
Birth Date: 1 October, 2000 Height: 1.80m (5ft 11in)
As if making the headlines at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 - as the youngest player on the team - wasn't admirable enough, earlier this year, Winterburn had a terrific display helping her London Lions to a historic EuroCup Women title. Great Britain superstars Temi Fagbenle and Kristine Anigwe may not be available for this phase of the World Cup Qualifiers, but with Winterburn on board, GB has hope.
Afril Bernardino - Philippines
FORWARD
Birth Date: 3 April, 1996 Height: 1.72m (5ft 8in)
Philippines leading scorer at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023, Bernardino emerges as one of the archipelago's top talents, and no-one better than renowned Coach Patrick Aquino to describe the type of player she is. Aquino is quoted as saying: "Known for her athleticism and relentlessness to win, Afril is one of the best players I have seen in the country. Her constant will to learn and determination to work harder than anybody else has made her who she is now."
Jack Animan - Philippines
CENTER
Birth Date: 27 November, 1998 Height: 1.95m (6ft 5in)
When the Philippines need Jack Animan to make her presence felt in the paint, the 1.95m (6ft 5in) never disappoints. And this was the case when Patrick Aquino's team desperately needed to win a relegation battle at FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023, and Animan came up big, averaging 10 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Now with the Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 on the horizon, Animan could play yet another role for the Filipinas.
Cierra Dillard - Senegal
GUARD
Birth Date: 8 May, 1996 Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in)
Dillard is often described as a coach on the floor such is her level of leadership. Since she debuted for Senegal at Women's AfroBasket 2023, Dillard has become one of Senegal's key players. A point guard with a unique ability to score and create shooting opportunities for teammates, Dillard could be the go-to player for the Lionesses in the Kigali showpiece.
Rebecca Akl - Lebanon
POINT GUARD
Birth Date: 18 October, 1992 Height: 1.70m (5ft 7in)
Most of the time Lebanon's offense starts and finishes with Akl, and when she catches her rhythm it's hard to contain her.
Bernadette Hatar - Hungary
CENTER
Birth Date: 24 August, 1994 Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in)
How to contain a dominant Bernadette Hatar - a 2.08m center and the tallest player in the entire tournament - is likely to be Hungary opponents' main concern. And if the numbers - that Hatar put in during the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament held on home soil earlier this year - are anything to go by, then there might not be easy answers to her. Hatar had a 14-for-25 shooting over three games.
Emanuely De Oliveira - Brazil
POWER FORWARD
Birth Date: 11 December, 1999 Height: 1.80m (5ft 11in)
De Oliveira couldn't have showcased her talent any better than scoring 13 points and help Brazil beat the USA in the FIBA Women's Americup 2023 final. Unavailable for the Women's OQT earlier this year, Emanuely returns looking to make some noise in Kigali.
Trinity Baptiste - Lebanon
SMALL FORWARD
Birth Date: 15 June, 1998 Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in)
Drafted by the Indiana Fever in the second round of the WNBA 2021, American-born Baptiste is one of Lebanon's main scoring options. She averaged team-highs 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023.